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Now that I am back, I have no excuse to not revamp this first post. Let me know if I missed something please, or if this edit has made the thread too hard to scroll through.

Dragon Age: Origins is the "Spiritual Successor" of BG. It is a strictly single player "Dark Fantasy" RPG built on what Bioware called "the Eclipse Engine." The game uses a "DnD like" rule system. The PC version of the game will be released with a Toolset that is promised to be more powerful and more accessible then those of previous Bioware games.

The "What we know about the game" and "Reviews" sections below are updated most regularly.

The Pre-order DLC Confusion:
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For a very nice comparison of the pre-order bonus of CE version of DA from different vendors, please check out the nice article from Gear Diary
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There will be 3 different versions of the game being released:
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Without worrying about vendor specific additional items.
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Regular Edition (boxed or digital):
- Game
- The Stone Prisoner DLC (quests, recruitable golem NPC)
- Blood Dragon Armor (for both DA and ME 2)
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Boxed Collector's Edition:
- Stuff in Regular edition of DA
- Tin case
- cloth map
- Bonus DVD (making of etc.)
- Soundtrack
- Wallpaper (digital)
- Bergen's Honor (DLC item)
- Grimorie of the Forzen Waters (DLC Item)
- Final Reason (DLC Item)
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Digital Deluxe Version (Digital CE) Can be bought from Impulse, Gamersgate and Steam.
- Stuff in Boxed CE version of the game, minus cloth map, tin case, Bonus DVD
- Additional DLC: Warden's Keep (Player base, quests)
[/size]Links:Excel Character planner spreadsheet, created by Adaram on the Bioware Social Network.Official SiteDA wikiCharacter Creator Download Create your character now, and upload it to the Bioware Social network and you will get another bonus in game Ring.GWJ Group on Bioware Social NetworkSkill Database and Talent Database from Gamebanshee
(10/22)Flash game: Dragon Age Journeys. Apparently you get 3 items, to be used in DA:O, for playing this flash game. (thanks Bullion Cube)

What we know about the game(Updated: 10/23):
(Newer info bits are posted first)

Difference in Console version: "Ring Structure" to access commands, I am assuming this is like the radial menu in NWN. Also, Console version will have a more action oriented feel to it. Another video showing the console interface.

You can give gifts to your companions to make them happy. This is going to be great for those of us that save and reload at every possible events/dialogs just in case it screwed up our Companion Influence...

Tons of NPC banter, little to no repeats in one play through.

Origin stories are awesome, you will want to try all the origins.

Influence "mini-game": In addition to your actions/dialogs, you can give gifts to your companions. Gifts will affect each companion differently. It is up to the player to find out what gifts will please which companion the most.

A lot of sidequests are based off of the main quest. While there are purely ancillary quests, DA provides a much more directed gaming experience then games like Oblivion.

Not completing some of the ancillary quests can be a good thing, since complete them can negatively affect your influence with a companion.

Most dungeons provide players with different tactical challenges, instead of just providing generic battles.

Six Origin stories: Dalish Elf, Dwarf Commoner, Magi, Human Noble, City Elf, Dwarf Noble. Each of them offers a different starting experience. And they will affect how NPC react to you.

Isometric view is ONLY available on the PC version. Thanks to Rat Boy for spotting this news.

Don't fret about the lack of character skill selection from the character creator. There are Spcialization Classes that you can take later on (there are quests needed to be done to get these). More info here

There is no level cap but enemies don't scale, and there no known grinding spot yet.

"Hub of interest" based overland map. Like in past BG games. (Not free roaming like in Oblivion or Risen) There are random encounters though.

You can create your own AI scripts for your part members in game. It is like the "Gambit system" in Final Fantasy 12.
Excellent Summary of this system from Corin Tucker over at SA:

Dragon Age lets you create "If X Then Y" scripts for each member of your party, automating as much or as little of the combat as you want. It's sort of like the Gambit system in FFXII. You start off with a set amount of script slots, and as you level up (and your characters get new powers and run into new challenges) you automatically gain more. You can also invest skill points (NOT talent points which you use to buy combat abilities) into Combat Tactics, which will grant you additional slots.

The game has been in polish mode for a while now. Reviewers like Desslock have reported great stability of the game.

(Not Shilling I promise ) There are currently two books written for Dragon Age. First there is The Stolen Throne then there is The Calling. I am reading the first one right now, and while the expert opinion is that the books don't have supurb writing and incredible stories, I am enjoy the book very much.
I think they are worth reading for fans of Dragon Age for sure. Both books can be considered "prequel" to the game.

PC Gamer UK supposedly have a review of the game, by John Walker (from RPS) who previously pretty much panned the game based on his E3 impressions, the score is 94%.

***NEW***In PC Gamer UK Podcast eps 34, John talks about why he gave the game his all time high score. And recommends the PC version for best experience.

Desslock wrote a very extend review (he was given 8 pages!) for PC Gamer US. The review is not yet published yet, but from what Desslock have posted over at QT3, DA is going to live up to the "spiritual successor of BG" title.

[size=4]Oh and I totally blame console for the delay of DA! I should be playing it right now, instead of making this post. :twisted:[/size]

Decisions are just decisions, there are neither "good" or "bad"
[quote=LobsterMobster] *In response to being rewarded with a in-game shack for NOT nuking FO3 city Megaton*
Yeah, but if you set off the bomb in Megaton you are rewarded with a parking lot!

As the >checks the spreadsheet< sole representative of the PS3 contingent of this game, when Bioware promised an exciting announcement coming today, I started working on my joke about Home and The New sh*t, but it turns out it really was an exciting announcement, for me, at least. My desire to grab the GOTY Fallout right away has been impaled and gutted.

EDIT: Why PS3, and not PC, was asked pages back. It's what I play on. I'm not confident in my PC's power, or my ability to resolve any issues that come up trying to get it to run. Also, I like my couch.

I'm really, really enjoying DA:Journeys. I have to fess up to playing a LOT (and I mean a LOT) of flash games in the last 8 months, and the accomplishment they have on their hands here is hard to express. This is easily one of the most polished, deep, elaborate titles I've yet seen.

I have to disagree about DA:Journeys. I find it to be a fairly poorly designed tactical RPG, I'm only really playing it for the unlockable Dragon Age items. The tactics side is fairly weak and it's obvious that the game is a quick and dirty port of the Dragon Age: Origins battle system, which isn't designed to work with a grid. For example the Mage's Flame Blast spell hits three squares in front of the caster, but you're almost never going to get multiple enemies to line up on the same row in this game. Combat swings wildly from an easy hack and slash to frustrating one or two hit deaths. The lack of health/mana regen between fights is also fairly annoying, I think that's an archaic convention that we can do away with now. The challenge should be from each individual battle, not rationing potions over the course of a dungeon. Character animations are okay but the artwork in general looks sloppy, the environments in particular. I especially hate how the camera scrolls jerkily on the exploration screen. The writing also doesn't meet Bioware's standard level. Not to mention there's constant reminders like the surveys that let you know you're really just playing one big advertisement for the real game.

I can't really say there are better flash RPGs than this one but there are certainly better tactical RPGs in this style and better flash games in general.

Anyone else look at this and say, "Hmm, Bioware didn't want to use or lost the DnD license so they made their own DnD ruleset that meshes the way they want it to in a computer game."

Actually, BioWare themselves have been describing the game in this way exactly. When it was first announced they explained that they were still interested in fantasy RPGs, but kind of growing sick of being restrained by a license, both in shoehorning a PnP system into a real-time video game and in not being able to do a lot of things creatively. I remember hearing rumours that everything from new spells to unorthodox story ideas being continuously vetoed by someone at Hasbro during the making of the original Neverwinter Nights was what convinced them to turn down making the sequel themselves, or any other DnD games for that matter. Similar frustrations with LucasArts over KOTOR was supposedly what led them to turn down it's sequel as well and create Mass Effect instead.

stevenmack wrote:

ah ok ... being careful what i read in this thread now in case of spoilers :)

I can understand that. I feel like I'm being over-saturated with info on games in general these days.

I would think the first rule of PR is to ignore forum people, because they vacillate between crazy and liar. - Elysium

Nope not at all. It appears to be working and I'm hesitant to say working better without getting my grubby little hands on it. Impressions from videos and the little I've dabbled with DA Journeys are giving me a lot of "working better" vibes.

@kuddles - *nods in agreement* I'm not complaining in the slightest...

ah ok ... being careful what i read in this thread now in case of spoilers

Btw, I am keeping the OP updated, so you can usually find most of the info there. I also try to make sure that everything referenced in the OP won't have much spoiler material.

@fangblackbone and Kuddles: I think by going away from DnD is a good thing also. It gives the game developer a lot more freedom. For example, in regard to MoTB:

Spoiler:

I am pretty sure that most of us would loved to have the "Wall of Faithless" story arc completed. Instead, it was left pretty much unresolved because of the restriction from DnD side of things.

Decisions are just decisions, there are neither "good" or "bad"
[quote=LobsterMobster] *In response to being rewarded with a in-game shack for NOT nuking FO3 city Megaton*
Yeah, but if you set off the bomb in Megaton you are rewarded with a parking lot!

There is no ability to import your character and restart the game with them. If you are playing on Nightmare, you are starting at level 1.

The PC version is also somewhat harder than the console versions.

I highly reccommend that you do NOT play your first playthrough on nightmare unless you enjoy pain. I mean "REALLY" enjoy pain.

Of course, if Pain is your thing... by all means, play on Nightmare.

:evillol:

Unconfirmed additional info:

Gyoru from SA wrote:

The main difference that I remember reading about is on consoles mobs come at you in waves while on PC it's no holds barred.

Sooo, who is going to play the game on "Nightmare" to start? Please keep us informed of your progress (or lack of).

Decisions are just decisions, there are neither "good" or "bad"
[quote=LobsterMobster] *In response to being rewarded with a in-game shack for NOT nuking FO3 city Megaton*
Yeah, but if you set off the bomb in Megaton you are rewarded with a parking lot!

Anyone else look at this and say, "Hmm, Bioware didn't want to use or lost the DnD license so they made their own DnD ruleset that meshes the way they want it to in a computer game."

Absolutely. I also think it's much bigger than that. To paraphrase, well, me (yes, that's a shameless plug), I think the Dragon Age IP represents a direct competitor to the Dungeons and Dragons franchise, not just in terms of video games, but as a property. Bioware's got the game, of course, with years of DLC and who knows how much user-created content. They're doing the pen and paper game. They've already got two books out. There's likely to be a board game and card game (per exec. producer Mark Darrah). There's a comic book coming. I can't think of any video game property -and certainly not a fantasy RPG- that launched with plans of this scope already in the works.

It makes sense that the console version would be easier. There's no other way to compensate for the complete change in control scheme. I actually see myself picking up the console version later down the road when I want to enjoy a different origin story or two but feel like taking it easy on the tactical concentration side of things.

lethial wrote:

@fangblackbone and Kuddles: I think by going away from DnD is a good thing also. It gives the game developer a lot more freedom.

Especially with an IP that's been around for as long as DnD has, with so much of the universe expanded upon for years. I'm sure everything from the layout of every town to even minor political incidents need to be checked against massive amounts of canon.

Plus, it would be good for the skills, spells, etc. to be built from the ground up for the style of play a video game affords instead of trying to shoehorn pen and paper techniques into it. For example, I don't think I've ever played a single CRPG based on DnD where Turn Undead didn't struggle with being anything worthwhile for a character to have.

I would think the first rule of PR is to ignore forum people, because they vacillate between crazy and liar. - Elysium

Yeah, though I am curious, are the massive amount of lore of DnD consistent for the most part?

DA's universe is shaping up to be pretty interesting.

(Aside: I so wish someone would pick up the Hellgate London Universe too... Sigh...)

Decisions are just decisions, there are neither "good" or "bad"
[quote=LobsterMobster] *In response to being rewarded with a in-game shack for NOT nuking FO3 city Megaton*
Yeah, but if you set off the bomb in Megaton you are rewarded with a parking lot!

Yeah, though I am curious, are the massive amount of lore of DnD consistent for the most part?

If you're going inside one of the worlds like Forgotten Realms or Dragonlance then yes, it generally stays pretty consistent. That said every time WotC puts out a new edition of AD&D they basically revamp the world without giving much of a reason.

For example, in Second Edition (and continuing into Third and 3.5) elves are all extremely long-lived, like the oldest manage thousands of years. The Drizzt underdark trilogy alone had Drizzt be fifty years old or so before he was considered a young adult. In Fourth Edition elves were scaled way the hell back for some reason, so now in official lore they only live three hundred years, quite a shift really. WotC's response, from what I understand, is to skip the Forgotten Realms universe forward a few hundred years and act like it has always been this way. I can't think of a better way so I can't blame them but those are the inconsistencies of the "official lore" as I understand it. If you're talking a town's layout or the personality of various major powers those seem pretty rigorously enforced.

I just came to the realization that if someone was able to find the billion most interesting people on the planet I probably wouldn't be one of them.

For example, in Second Edition (and continuing into Third and 3.5) elves are all extremely long-lived, like the oldest manage thousands of years. The Drizzt underdark trilogy alone had Drizzt be fifty years old or so before he was considered a young adult. In Fourth Edition elves were scaled way the hell back for some reason, so now in official lore they only live three hundred years, quite a shift really. WotC's response, from what I understand, is to skip the Forgotten Realms universe forward a few hundred years and act like it has always been this way. I can't think of a better way so I can't blame them but those are the inconsistencies of the "official lore" as I understand it. If you're talking a town's layout or the personality of various major powers those seem pretty rigorously enforced.

This is what happens when you have businessmen running a nerd's world. Characters that live a 1000 years are harder to replace with a new miniature that people will buy of a new character that fills the same role.

It makes sense that the console version would be easier. There's no other way to compensate for the complete change in control scheme.

Yeah, this is usually the case with games that require complex control schemes like RTS games. Definitely makes sense and is smart on the part of the developer. You don't want to be fighting against the controls. The console version looks like it plays allot like KOTOR.

kuddles wrote:

I actually see myself picking up the console version later down the road when I want to enjoy a different origin story or two but feel like taking it easy on the tactical concentration side of things.

I will likely do the opposite only b/c I'm already in for the console version. I will probably pick up the PC version when the game releases slow down in Q2 2010 and sales are to be had.

After watching the Giant Bomb "Quick Look" I will have to take back what I said in IRC about not being interested in DAO. It doesn't look as clunky as NWN/BG2 (the other two party RPGs I've played some of) so that's a good thing.

For example, in Second Edition (and continuing into Third and 3.5) elves are all extremely long-lived, like the oldest manage thousands of years. The Drizzt underdark trilogy alone had Drizzt be fifty years old or so before he was considered a young adult. In Fourth Edition elves were scaled way the hell back for some reason, so now in official lore they only live three hundred years, quite a shift really. WotC's response, from what I understand, is to skip the Forgotten Realms universe forward a few hundred years and act like it has always been this way. I can't think of a better way so I can't blame them but those are the inconsistencies of the "official lore" as I understand it. If you're talking a town's layout or the personality of various major powers those seem pretty rigorously enforced.

This is what happens when you have businessmen running a nerd's world. Characters that live a 1000 years are harder to replace with a new miniature that people will buy of a new character that fills the same role.

/cynic

More likely, they were sick of Tolkien comparisons. 2nd Edition even said that at 300 years, elves are compelled to go to a mysterious land across the sea.

Okay I've thought about this way too much, but I've made my choice. As much as I'm primarily a pc gamer, I think I'm getting this for the PS3 (I don't have a 360). I will miss the mods, but since I haven't modded a Bioware game since Baldur's Gate, I don't think I'll miss out on much. Mods are necessary for every Elder Scrolls game, but the Bioware experience is always good enough by itself. For me.

This is quite a strange thought for me to have, but the fact is I just don't have the money to upgrade my pc to where I would want it to be in order to play this game (my pc can certainly handle the game). So, $60 now, or at least $200 now with the added benefit of a better rig. I'll take the $60. For now.

NSMike wrote:

How did I live before digital distribution of old, cheap games?

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

You did live before digital distribution of old, cheap games. Now you just play games.

Good news! Dr. Ray Muzyka of Bioware now says the PS3 version will be shipping on November 3rd along with the 360 and PC verison. :D

You like skimming?

SpacePPoliceman wrote:

As the >checks the spreadsheet< sole representative of the PS3 contingent of this game, when Bioware promised an exciting announcement coming today, I started working on my joke about Home and The New sh*t, but it turns out it really was an exciting announcement, for me, at least. My desire to grab the GOTY Fallout right away has been impaled and gutted.

EDIT: Why PS3, and not PC, was asked pages back. It's what I play on. I'm not confident in my PC's power, or my ability to resolve any issues that come up trying to get it to run. Also, I like my couch.

The latest issue of PC Zone is out with their review. The summary at the bottom reads:

------------------------------------
+ Fascinating fantasy world
+ Entertaining companions
+ Stellar twisting, turning storyline
+ Addictive character development
- Difficulty all over the place

Score = 93%
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They also make a special mention about the origins and how impressed they were about the way it's integrated into the main storyline.

"These origins work brilliantly, not only as individual cases of playable lore but also in personalizing the 70+ hours of game-time ahead of you. As you play through the game your origins are meshed with the overall narrative thrust of the game to such an extent that you struggle to imagine what would be happening to someone with a different background".

I just assumed the origins would alter the first few hours of the game depending on your character, and then the rest of the game is entirely the same. Good to hear it's more involved then that.

I would think the first rule of PR is to ignore forum people, because they vacillate between crazy and liar. - Elysium

How dare they consider that a minus? Keeping me on my toes, while throwing the occasional easy battle to lure me into a false sense of security?

Eh, I can understand the annoyance of having to reload several times on some incredibly hard battle that was just preceded by a 10 minute cakewalk. That does feel out of the blue and frustrating. However, these kinds of balancing issues seem inevitable in these types of CRPGs when you let the player have so much choice about individual classes, stats, skills, etc., so I was kind of expecting it. Plus, like all BioWare games, they let you alter the difficulty settings any time you feel like it.

His only other complaint in the review was how sometimes specific interior areas have that "invisible wall" issue depending on how the camera is situated, but other then that the whole review was immensely positive.

I would think the first rule of PR is to ignore forum people, because they vacillate between crazy and liar. - Elysium